When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
Where are the big ideas? The big dreams, the ones bursting with colour that fill the heart with song and dance. The compelling ideas with power and enthusiasm, the ones which motivate and enthuse, the ones which make you smile and laugh, put a spring in your step, help you dig a little deeper. We need big and bold and brassy – the stuff which stops you in your tracks, takes your breath in a way that makes you think – ‘WOW – did I really just hear that?’
Changing the colour is just faffing about on the surface, it’s what’s underneath that matters, the foundations, the structure on which we can build our dreams. The same old same old with a different veneer, the expectation (hope?) that this time it’ll be different – that just doesn’t seem to cut it – madness and frustration, and another big black hole, that way lies.
When the world is upside down, surely that’s an opportunity to look at things differently, to imagine, to dream, to shake it up a little. Tickling about with £1 on bus fares – that’s not a big idea – getting rid of bus fares altogether, now that would have been a Bold & Brassy Budget.
Warning by Jenny Joseph
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
In our top picks this week, Susanna Clarke, the author of Piranesi, has released a novella to be read in one wintry sitting: The Wood at Midwinter. Merowdis Scott is happiest when she’s walking in the woods, talking to the animals and trees. One day, as darkness falls and a strange figure emerges, her life takes a different direction. And Martin Bailey’s The Sunflowers Are Mine is the perfect non-fiction to delve into before a trip to the National Gallery. In this exquisite book, Bailey uses original research to dive into the importance of the still life paintings Van Gogh created in Provence, and how these related to the wider art scene, his life, and posthumous success.
In poetry, Carol Ann Duffy has brought together planet-conscious poems from before the Romantics to the modern day in Earth Prayers. This anthology reflects a deep-seated concern for the Earth, as poets ponder sustainability and accountability across time. In classics, Medusa is a collection of short stories about the most misunderstood mythological character. Liv Alberts’ comprehensive introduction is followed by stories that reimagine the life of the powerful Medusa. In general fiction, Alejando Zambra’s Childish Literature is an intimate chronicle of fatherhood, and Alice Oseman’s This Winter is a Heartstopper novella that follows the beloved characters through a challenging festive season.
In non-fiction, The Farm Shop Guide will help you find seasonal, local produce that’s packed with more flavour and better for the community; A Beautiful Game is the late Sven-Göran Eriksson’s lessons on leadership and love; The Blackbird’s Song by Professor Miles Richardson helps us connect to the healing properties of nature, with peaceful activities laid out month-by-month for a holistic way of being; and Hetta Howes’ groundbreaking history takes us inside the minds of four medieval women writers, revealing the ways in which they fought against a misogynistic society.
For curious minds, A Story of the Seasons is bursting with fascinating facts about the animals and plants that change through the year. From whizzing tadpoles to hibernating hedgehogs, this large book will help children of all ages understand the wonders of the natural world. For smaller ones, Listen to the Nutcracker is an interactive board book featuring the enchanting music from Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas musical.
As always, if you want anything ordering in, do let us know!
From Sophie
The full newsletter with linkd to books – including this week’s Signed Editions – can be found HERE
